Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Joseph F. O'Brien

Brookline Police Department — Brookline, MA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch August 4, 1930

Age 32

The Vigil Panel 60 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Patrolman Joseph O'Brien was shot and fatally wounded, and a man with him was seriously wounded, by one of two men they surprised in the act of stealing a car. Patrolman O'Brien died in the hospital the next day. Both suspects were captured a few days later, one in Ashland, the other in New York City. The suspect who shot Patrolman O'Brien was executed in the electric chair on September 15, 1931. Patrolman O'Brian was survived by his wife. He was a World War I veteran having served in the 101 Machine Gun Company of the 26th Yankee Division.

Survivors

Patrolman O'Brian was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-FA6A81E1
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman O'Brien served with the Brookline Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Brookline community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Brookline Police Department

Location Brookline, MA

Platform Identity broopd.norfolk.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 4, 1930

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Executed in 1931

Military Service

Joseph F. O'Brien served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Joseph F. O'Brien is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 11.8 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Brookline Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Brookline Police Department

of 3 officers

66.7% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph F. O'Brien's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Joseph F. O'Brien Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 1931

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph F. O'Brien is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph F. O'Brien was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Brookline Police Department are honored on badge.nw.